First Pres Colorado Springs Sermons

One of the greatest roadblocks for non-Christians approaching Christ is the challenge of a higher sexual ethic. “Isn’t it horrible and backwards that Christians refuse to accept the simple truth that love is love?” Jesus calls us to a higher ethic of sexuality and human relationships. Believers have always stood out on this point. Could this roadblock be turned into a signpost to a better way? The...

I thought maybe I should title this sermon series “Salted Nuts.” The world does think we are nuts. “You believe all of history hinges on the life of one Jewish man who lived 2,000 years ago and died on a Roman cross?” Yup. “You rest your life on the Bible as though God delivered it to you when all of us know it is anachronistic, scientifically-disproved spiritual fluff?” Yeah, kinda. We do stand o...

With our roots deep in the soil of the Spirit of Christ, we are overflowing with his fullness. We are not living on the dregs, we are full of the divine life. We don’t live from a posture of lack and scarcity, but from the overflowing “more than enough” of the life of Jesus within us. The fullness within also makes us hungry for the world to be put right, for all the world to be full of the grace...

This is an odd verse. In some way or another, our sufferings contribute to the fullness of the divine life. We are connected to Christ, and even share in his sufferings. This life is a contest. We are pitted against evil forces that destroy life. As full children of God who flourish in the divine life filling us up from within, we overflow to fill up the gaps in the world. Wounds become sources of...

You cannot make too much of Jesus. It is not possible to say too much. What is Jesus but the fullness of God made manifest to us? What are we but the emptiness of sin without him? All of God’s fullness is pleased to dwell in Jesus Christ. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are drawn into his fullness of life. You are connected with the source of all being, the fountain of God’s goodness...

Do you believe in the fullness of life? Can it happen to you? It has less to do with your external circumstances and more to do with the attachments of your heart. Paul has the same attachments of the heart whether he is free or in chains, comfortable or suffering. Fullness happens within. You will know streams of living water flowing from within you (John 7:38) when Jesus pours out his Holy Spiri...

The seed is the Word of God. The parable of the soil is not determinative. Jesus expects that you have the ability to change your soil, to alter the soil of your heart. How is that done? How can you soften your heart to receive the good news of Jesus and bear fruit a hundred fold? “Come to me in your weariness and distress,” says Jesus. “Take up my yoke. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. Walk a...

John 10:10 says, ‘'The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus is accused of using satanic power to manipulate satanic forces. Actually, he uses divine power to destroy Satan’s purposes. Are you aware that there is a spiritual battle for your soul and the souls of your family and friends? (C S Lewis, Screwtape Letter...

Family is not always the easiest to navigate. Friends can sometimes be a burden. Jesus drew the disciples near and made family of them. Jesus suffered difficult family dynamics among his own brothers. Jesus can get in the middle of your most trying relationships. Jesus cares about our relationships with others. We can bless one another or curse one another, but with the love of Jesus within us we...

The fact that Jesus is the source and cause of our salvation and healing is actually an affront to the religious leaders. We can live with a god who tells us what to do and helps us achieve the goal, even one who defines our goals contrary to our personal desires. What we cannot tolerate is the idea that we need Jesus as our Savior. Where does true healing start? We try everything. Diet. Exercise....

Maybe this summer is the summer of sabbath for you. What is the sabbath? Why does God command it? The regular practice of the sabbath alters our lives demonstrably for the better. It honors God, serves neighbor, promotes justice, and betters the earth. But it can also be a temptation to earn God’s favor through legalism. It is neither Jesus’ intent to push us into legalistic and performative behav...

The paralyzed man was lowered before Jesus from the roof. Obviously uncomfortable, obviously lame, obviously in need of physical relief, Jesus forgave his sins. He only healed his body to prove he has authority to remove and forgive his sins. Levi needed correction, prophetic justice raining down on his head. Jesus went to his house and became his friend. He only changed his career after filling h...

Not them, Lord. Not them. Was it racism? Was it nationalism? Something in Jonah’s heart could not accept the prospect of a Ninevite brother in the family. Families must be models of acceptance and grace. We celebrate the family today. With each new generation we accept new brothers and sisters in faith in Christ. I love stories of mothers who know how to bring new family members into the fold with...

How amazing is God’s grace? There are none who are so far from Christ that they cannot hear His voice, turn and live. Do you share Jesus with expectation that the person in front of you may soon be your eternal brother or sister in Christ? Can you see the unseen future of the lost being found and finding a new identity in Christ? There are amazing stories of conversion and revival. But every testi...

In one way or another, you will spend your life. The question is what will you spend it on. Jonah realized they were all doomed if he did not change course. He realized that death was coming over all of them, including himself. There was no more choosing. There was only one thing to do—give his life for theirs’. At that moment, he was willing to die to save the lives of the shipmates. Jesus said t...

What is your first reaction to God’s purposes in your life? Do you embrace them? Even the hard things? God had an errand for Jonah—go and preach grace to the citizens of Nineveh; go and preach love to your enemies. Jonah probably had a list of reasons in his own mind why he got on a boat to flee in the opposite direction. We are given an errand today. Go and preach forgiveness to the ends of the e...

What does it mean to have eternal life? It means you are in the love of God. Love goes on forever. As Paul said, hope lasts only as long as you are waiting for what you are hoping for. Faith lasts only until you know by sight the thing you once believed without seeing. But love. Love goes on forever and only grows greater. To put your faith in Christ is to be in Christ, in His love, which goes on...

The cross is the culmination of Jesus’ mission of love. The only way that God could be both just and the justifier of sinners, both righteous and the forgiver of rebels, is to send His own Son to pay the due penalty for our error and rebellion. God would not do that unless He loved us. God so loved the world, so loved the fallen, rebellious, spiteful world, that He gave His Son, His only Son. That...

On Palm Sunday, Jesus came into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Many crowded around singing “Hosanna!” Everyone wanted to see Jesus. Can you see Jesus? In this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus says something has to happen before you can see. You must be born again from above, born again spiritually, fundamentally transformed and regenerated. Like a baby that opens its eyes for the first time,...

Jesus was forceful about removing the marketeers from the House of the Lord. The disciples were no doubt embarrassed and concerned. I wonder if they made up excuses for Jesus. “Honestly, He’s never like this!” Love and truth are connected. Sometimes love looks like this. Love removes what is damaging and perverse to return your life to right relationship with God. Jesus is willing to stand for tru...

Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus loved being Jesus. He must have! Look at how much fun He has. It was not a parlor trick. It reveals how invested Jesus is in people and the problems they have. Jesus is invested in us the same way. We ask, “Do all people matter to God?” Here is a seemingly insignificant young couple getting married. Jesus cared enough to expose His power and threaten His agenda....

When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, they were moved to drop everything and follow. The conviction was immediate. We have a hard time trusting. Trust is a big deal. You have to earn it. It takes time to build up and can be destroyed in an instant. How did these men and women trust Jesus so quickly? People ask “Can I trust you?” They want someone to trust. Jesus is worthy of all our trust...

God took on flesh in Jesus to become for us the perfect sacrifice of atonement. Jesus came to give His life away in order to rescue us from sin and death. Other gospels tell us all about Bethlehem, where faultless lambs were bred and raised for sacrifice in the Temple. John washed the surface of a person with water. Jesus is the only one who can die for us and make us clean. People want to know, “...

Activated Disciples know what their ministry is. It’s not just about learning more and more information. It’s about serving Christ on mission in this world. Every member has a ministry. What is your ministry? Paul says to see him as a servant of Christ entrusted with mysteries revealed by God. We have been given a trust. How will you use it? The Core is those members who have found their ministry....

Disciples need deeper discipleship. Worshipers gather on Sunday to experience the joy of worship, but do they grow from milk to solid food? Worship is not a 1-hour a week thing. We belong to Jesus as Disciples. Have you taken a next step? Do you read the Bible at home? Do you pray outside of church? Do you worship God wherever you are? A disciple wants to be like Jesus in everything they do. They...